Sanitary straw dispenser



June 8 1926.

c L YOUNG SANITARY STRAW DISPENSER Filed Feb. 18, 1924 Mar/i S ,i

- the top.

Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAIR-LE8 L. YOUNG, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 SANISTBAW DISPENSER GOIPANY, OI BEBWYN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01 ILLINOIS.

SANITARY STRAW DISPENSER.

Application fled February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,642.

The object of my invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a sanitary straw dispenser which is simple in character, neat and attractive in appearance, novel in operation, efficient in practice, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low rice.

p More specifically stated, my object is to produce a sanitary straw dispenser wherein straws for use with various kinds of drinks may be kept clean and free from dust and insects, and from which it will be impossible for a person to touch or handle any of the straws except the one withdrawn for his especial use, thereby not only preventing a person from withdrawing a plurality of straws at one time but still more important, preventing one from handling the straws to be used by others.

Other minor objects and particular advantages of the invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following specification, and that which is new will, be correlated in the appended claim. 1

The preferred means for carrying out my invention in a. practical and efficient manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 shows my complete construction in elevation. Figure 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the device. Figure 3 is a plan view, looking upward into the top member. Figure 4 is a plan View of the automatic closure for the top. Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the device, as taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the cylindrical tube for the plunger, taken at right angles to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. And Figure 7 is an edge view of a part of Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of the invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I may.

The base of my device comprises the downwardly flaring body 2 forming an inclosure, the same being round in cross section. Said body has a flat removable bottom 3. The

reduced upper open end of the body is threaded, as indicated by the numeral 4.

Numeral 5 denotes the hopper,

which in 7 fact form the bottom of the container proper hereinafter described. Said hopper is in the nature of a partition of inverted coneshape, which converges downward to its center where there is a round opening concentric therewith, with the u per outer edge or periphery of said hopper integral with or rigidly connected to the inner face of the wall .2 at a point immediately below the threads 4.

Connected with the opening in the center is revolvably mounted in the upper portion,

of the slot 8. The upper end of the plunger ,7,is formed cup-shaped, as indicated at 10,

the size of said cup being such as to easily receive the end of a straw A, B, C or D.

Located near the bottom 3, and extending across the center of the member 2 is a rod 12 with its ends secured to the member 2, in the center of which is secured the lower end of the helical spring 13', the upper end of said spring being connected to the lower end of the plunger 7.

Numeral 14: denotes a curved lever, whose blade portion is adapted to slide in the slots 8 and 11, with its upper edge in contact with the roller 9.

Said lever is mounted near the lower end of the wall 2, on the pivot 15 which is carried by said wall or body, and the right angular portion of said lever 14 projects out through a slot 16 formed through the wall 2,. and the outer end of said lever terminates in the button or key 17.

The top 19 is of cone shape, having a vertical and downwardly extending flange 20 formed at its periphery, which flange is threaded to engage with corresponding threads formed on the upper end portion of the glass holder 1.

An aperture is formed at 21, being in the vortex of and concentric with the top 19, and therefore in alignment with the plunger j ecte said'cover at the point opposite to said arm to en age with the straw when one is proup into said aperture 21, and the contact edge of said notch is roughened whereby a straw will be supported and prevented from sliding down when the plunger has moved down away from the straw.

The cover or top 19 is formed crimped, to provide a plurality of channels 26 WhlCh extend convergently to the a erture 21 from the threaded flange 20. Said channels are formed by means of the ridges 27 each alternate ridge extending only approximately half Way from the periphery toward the center, at which point each two of said channels unite and continue to the center as one, all substantially as indicated in Fig. 3.

In practice I prefer that the container 1 be made of glass, however I do not desire that it be limited thereto.

The straws A, B, C and D may be of any suitable material, that is they may be natural wheat or rye straws, or they may be made of paper formed into tubes. The purpose of said straws or tubes being for use 1n connection with various drinks, through which fluid may be drawn up into ones mouth.

1 The operation of my device is very simple The top or cover 19 may be unscrewed from the container 1, after which the con-, tainer may be filled with straws, resting their lower ends on the partition or hopper 5, the inclination of the latter being such that thestraws are enclined to enter the central aperture of the hopper 5, by which it is assured that one of the straws will always be resting in the cup 10 in the upper end of the plunger 7. After the container has been filled the top should bereplaced when the device will a pear as shown in Fig.1. Now if one shoul p'ressdown on the button 17 it is evident that the lever 14 operating against the roller 9 will force the plunger 7 directly upward, carrying with it one of the straws whose upper end will be guided by the channels 26 to the aperture 21, and the u per portion of the straw will be projecte out therethrough, as in Fig. 2. If

now the button 17 be released then the spring 13 will return the plunger and the lever to their normal positions, as in Fig. 1, and a second straw will slide into the 'cup 10 of the plunger.

It is evident that when the plunger moves down from contact with the straw that the straw can not follow, but will be supported by the disc 22, but it will be in such position that it can be easily lifted out by the person who intends to use it.

From the above it is manifest that the straws are kept in sanitary condition, and where they may be seen, and that the user can handle only the straw that he intends to use. 7

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the size and the pr0- portions and in the several details of the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

A sanitary straw dispenser, comprising in combination with a tubular glass container adapted to contain straws standing on end therein, with a removable bottom formed convergent downward to its center with an aperture through the center of the bottom; a downwardly flaring base for the container, a tube extending from said aperture down into the base and a slot formed longitudinal ly through said tube, a plunger slidable in said tube with its upper portion adapted to be projected through said aperture and into the container, a roller carried by the lower end of the plunger, a lever pivoted in the base and adapted to bemanually operated from outside the base, a curved blade connected with said lever and extending through a slot in said tube and engaging said roller for lifting the plunger, a spring normally pulling the plunger downward when the lever is released, an upwardly converging top attached to the container with an opening formed through the center thereof, said top being formed with a lurality of channels extending convergently to the aperture in the top to guide the upper ends of the straws into the aperture in the top, a cover for said aperture in the top, means for hinging said cover whereby it will automatically close said aperture in the top when a straw is removed therefrom and, mean formed in said cover to prevent a straw from moving downward through said aperture in the top.

CHARLES L. YOUNG. 

